Water tap

Abstract

A mixer tap unit has a body connected to a nozzle having two separate water passages extending the length of the nozzle. A hot water connection, a cold water connection and a filtered water connection are provided for the body. In use, the hot and cold water can mix in a mixing chamber in the tap body and flow along the passage. Filtered water flows separately along the passage. Valves are provided to respectively control the flow of the hot, cold and filtered water. In a preferred form, a chamber allows carbonization of the filtered water prior to delivery to the tap body and the supply of CO 2 gas to the chamber is controllable by a valve. The valve is operated in a first direction to inject CO 2 gas into water in the chamber, and in a second direction to allow the carbonated water to flow to the nozzle.

We claim: 
     
       1. A water tap comprising a tap body, a nozzle coupled to the tap body and having an outlet and at least two separate passages extending from the body to the nozzle outlet, connections for connecting hot and cold water supplies to the body, and a connection for connecting a filtered water supply to the body, and first, second and third control valves on the body controlling respectively the supply of hot and cold water and filtered water to the nozzle passages via the body, the arrangement being such that the filtered water passes through one of the nozzle passages and the hot and cold water pass through the other passage or passages. 
     
     
       2. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filtered water control valve is biased to a closed position. 
     
     
       3. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tap body includes a mixing chamber into which the hot and cold water are fed from the respective control valves. 
     
     
       4. A tap as claimed in claim 3, including non-return valves upstream of the hot and cold water-control valves. 
     
     
       5. A tap as claimed in claim 1, including a fourth control valve and water supply connection for a supply of carbonated water. 
     
     
       6. An assembly comprising a tap as claimed in claim 1 and means for carbonating said filtered water. 
     
     
       7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the carbonated filtered water is supplied via the filtered water supply connection. 
     
     
       8. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the filtered water control valve is arranged to operate selectively the means for carbonating filtered water before it is delivered to the nozzle. 
     
     
       9. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, said means for carbonating said filtered water comprising a temporary water storage chamber, having an inlet and an outlet, connected between the filtered water supply and the filtered water supply connection, a gas supply comprising a source of pressurized carbon dioxide gas connected to the storage chamber, and means for selectively injecting the carbon dioxide gas into water held in the storage chamber. 
     
     
       10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, said means for selectively injecting the carbon dioxide gas comprising a gas control valve connected between the gas supply and the storage chamber the gas control valve being operated by the filtered water control valve, and a pressure release valve for releasing gas from the chamber when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined amount. 
     
     
       11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, including a gas pressure surge valve at the storage chamber outlet which is closed as gas pressure in the chamber increases and open when the pressure has stabilized. 
     
     
       12. A water tap comprising a tap body, a nozzle coupled to the tap body and having an outlet and at least two separate passages extending from the body to the nozzle outlet, connections for connecting hot and cold water supplies to the body, and a connection for connecting a filtered water supply to the body, and control valve means on the body for controlling the supply of hot and cold water and filtered water to the nozzle passages via the body, the arrangement being such that the filtered water passes through one of the nozzle passages and the hot and cold water pass through the other passage or passages.